A career change at the age of 48 can be a daunting prospect but for David Milburn it was a challenge that he embraced. Having enlisted onto the New Entrepreneur Scholarship scheme through the North Devon Enterprise Agency, David was thrilled, when at the end of the course; he was chosen along with 39 other candidates nationwide to go for further training in Liverpool under the New Entrepreneur TransAtlantic Scholarship. "We were put up in a five star hotel", said David, "and it really was the icing on the cake. The whole course, with all the free help I had been given by the team at North Devon Enterprise Agency, was invaluable to my defining my own business goals and identifying how I could move my new business forward. Although I wasn’t amongst the 20 picked to go to America to study it was a great weekend of free training."

David explained why he enlisted on the New Entrepreneur Scholarship scheme in the first place. "I heard about it from a friend who had gone to the NDEA on a one day business course. I knew I wanted to work for myself, but I had so many creative ideas that I needed to structure them in such a way that I would end up with a viable business plan. I had gone straight from school into catering in hotels and then went on to spend 6 years as a baker at Sainsburys. Although I like cooking, I wanted to do something more with my life and I felt the time was right for a change. I had already enrolled on a Foundation Degree Music Technology course at North Devon College, which I passed, where part of the course involved project planning and realisation. I chose to set up a new business called Times One Production Studio. In the middle of all this, I also taught myself graphic design and found that the computer gave me the tools to be multi-talented and multi-tasking."

On the spur of the moment, David rang Lorraine Furse at the NDEA for information about the NES course which is geared to helping people who live in the more deprived areas of North Devon. "Lorraine told me that I fitted the bill, so I drove to Caddsdown, filled in the application form, handed it in and the following week started my course which was held in the FlexIt Centre in Barnstaple. I felt I was in the right place at the right time and that my mindset was ready to learn how I could get the best out of the course.

"The NES gave structure to my creative ideas. Jerry Bix, one of the advisors at NDEA said, "Your brain is everywhere- you need to focus on one idea and work it through and then bring in other ideas. It was good advice, and I quickly identified three major areas that I wanted to follow. My freelance graphic design business, Heaven Sent, will combine very well with the other activities of Times One Production Studio, which involves working with musicians, live sound recording, videos, training and multimedia production. Jerry Bix recently asked me to do the sound engineering at one of the venues for the Bideford Folk Festival and I had some great feedback and very positive comments. I have also been busy recording The Oggle band as well as making a video of them playing and designing their CD covers.

"The third strand of my business plan is called Golden Cord which will involve making chocolate cakes for special occasions, but at the moment I have put that idea on hold. My long term goal is to be an employer, doing in-house training and drawing out people’s passion and skills to help them follow their dreams.

"On the NES scheme I had to produce a viable, workable business plan which runs to seventy pages. I refer to it all the time and adapt it to changes which sometimes involve clarifying ideas. Overall, I found the course was excellent and I went on to take up other free courses. The resources at Caddsdown are very good and the team of people there are extremely knowledgeable. If you are ready to start your business and have the commitment to see it through, then a scheme like this is an excellent opportunity. On a personal level, it has helped tremendously with my confidence. It’s all about seizing the moment and daring to dream your dreams- I would encourage anyone who has an idea for a business to explore the help that is out there and go for it."

At the end of the course, David’s business plan was sent away to be evaluated by several external bodies and once approved he was then able to receive a grant for £1500 which he spent on acquiring equipment and items for his new business.

Dane Stanley, who heads up the NDEA, said all the team were thrilled at David’s achievements. "We are particularly pleased as he is our first client to be selected to go to Liverpool to attend the TransAtlantic Scholarship. He is a shining example of what can be achieved when someone makes their mind up and really get to grips with a business idea."

The next series of New Entrepreneur Scholarships starts at the beginning of September. For details and criteria please ring the North Devon Enterprise Agency on 01237- 426416. David Milburn ‘Times One Production Studio’ can be contacted on 01271-343811 or mobile 0779 2204879.